Court moves Sandusky hearing from high school

By The Associated Press

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

HARRISBURG — A state appeals court on Wednesday moved a hearing next month on Jerry Sandusky’s appeal of his child molestation conviction from a northeastern Pennsylvania high school to the nearby county courthouse.

Superior Court scheduled oral arguments in the appeal for 3 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre. The session had previously been set for the same date at in the auditorium at Dallas High School.

Superior Court Judge Jack Panella said the move was prompted by a high level of media interest in the cases to be argued that day. The statement said the court holds sessions in community and educational settings to bring its business to the average person and to help educate students and the wider public, but “to avoid possible disruption of those goals it is believed prudent to re-schedule these cases to the county courthouse.”

Along with the Sandusky matter, the judges will also consider an appeal by Mike Veon, a former high-ranking Democrat in the state House now serving prison time after being convicted in the “Bonusgate” public corruption investigation, as well as a third case.

Sandusky is challenging his conviction last year on 45 counts of child sexual abuse, involving 10 boys. The former Penn State assistant coach is serving a 30- to 60-year sentence at Greene State Prison in the state’s southwestern corner.

“I’m happy to argue it wherever they want to be,” said Sandusky’s lawyer, Norris Gelman. “I’ll meet them on any ground.”

As usual, still cameras and audio and video recording equipment will not be allowed in the courtroom.